Door check and closer.



A. J. ROSBNTRETER.

DCCR CHECK ANC CLOSER.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 10, 1914. 1,1 9,878. Patented DCC. 8, 1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

lill/Ell 5 vw@ niet A. J. ROSENTRETBR.

DOOR CHECK AND CLOSER.

APPLICATION FILED APR.10,1914.

1,119,878. Patented 1 ec.8,1914.`

2 SHBETS-BHBET 2.

time

UNITED i STATES PMLTEN T OFFICE.

ALBERT J'. ROSENTRETER, OF BOONTON, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR T0 EDGAR ZABRISKIE, 0F MAPLEWOOD, NEW JERSEY, AND FRANK E. HUTCHINS, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

DOOR CHECK ANI) CLOSER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 8, 1914.

Application filed April 10, 1914. Serial No. 830,891.

To all 'whom it may concern Be it known that I, ALBERT J. ROSEN- TnFfrnR, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Boonton, in the county of Morris and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Door Checks and Closers, of which the following is a specification.

The invention pertains to door checks and closers of the class usually employed on or adjacent to the upper' ends of doors for closing the door under the force of a spring controlled by liquid checking means, it being more usual to secure the closing and checking means yto the door and connect the same with jointed lever arms secured to the lintel over the door.

The object of the present invention is to produce a greatly simplified and at the same time highly efficient and durable door closer and check adapted for either right or left hand doors, one of the main purposes being to provide a structure which may be readily manufactured at minimum expense and which is devoid of concealed complex eatures which have given rise to many diiiculties when the check has been in use and is required to be repaired or readjusted by carpeuters and others unfamiliar with the details of liquid check construction and manipulation.

The more essential features of my invention reside in the supporting and securing bracket to which the liquid checking cylinder is secured and in the cup members constituting the spring chamber and freely mounted on the stud integral with said supporting bracket, together with the details by which said cup members are controlled and also by which one cup member may be rotated to wind the spring from one end during the opening of a right hand door and from the other end during the opening of a left hand door.

The invention and its advantages will be fully understood from the detailed descripl tion herinafter presented, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in

which:

Figure 1 is a top view of a door check and closer constructed in accordance with and embodying the invention and indicated as being applied to or arranged for a right hand door, the several parts being shown in the position they occupy when the door is in its closed position; Fig. 2 is a horizontal section on a larger scale through the same taken on the dotted line 2-2 of Fig. Il, Fig. 2 showing the supporting bracket in horizontal section and the spring in position in the lower one of the cups of the spring chamber, the upper cup being omitted from Fig. 2 and the central post and spindle therein being shown in top elevation; Fig. 3 is a horizontal section through one end portion of the liquid checking cylinder and devices therein; Fig. 4 is a central vertical section through the door check and closer taken on the dotted line '-l-i of Fig. 5; Fig. 5 is a central vertical section on the dotted line 5--5 of Fig. -1 and taken at a right angle t0 the section of Fig. Il, and Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken on the dotted line 6 6 oi Fig. 5, the cylinder being shown as partly broken away.

. ln the drawings, 10 designates the main supporting bracket for the closer and cheek, 1'1, the liquid checking cylinder, and 12 the closing spring, said spring being conined within a spring chamber formed by upper and lower corresponding facing cups 13, 11, respectively, one end ot' the spring being se cured to the upper cup by having the extremityv 15 thereof bent upwardly and inserted in a hole in the top ci said cup and the other end of the spring being secured to the bottom of the lower cup by the insertion oi the downwardly bent extremity 1G thereof in a hole in said cup, as shown in Fig. 4.

The main supporting bracket 10 is in one integral piece and comprises a base plate or member 17 which extends between the upper side of the cylinder 11 and bottom of the lower cup 14, a back 18 of substantiallyr semi-circular outline extending upwardly from the rear edges of the plate 17 and behind the cups 13, 14, and laterally extending ears 19, 19 having holes through which screws may be inserted for securing the bracket against a door or other support. The back 18 extends upwardly to nearl)y thc upper edge of the upper cup 13 and is separated by a semi-circular space from the cups 13, 14, and said back is formed integrally with a vertical stop 20 which is centrally ot' the back and parallel with the vertical center of the cups 13, 1-1- with wh fh or with lugs on which said stop coiipcrates. The busc-plate 17 has formed on it a central verticallpost or stud 21 which is tubular and receives the spindle 22 for actuating the piston in the cylinder 11. rlFhe post 21 is provided at its upper end with a gland for the spindle 22 and lower down is formed with a chamber 23 horizontally encompassing the spindle vand from which a port 24 leads downwardly to the interior of the cylinder 11, the chamber 23 and port 24 not being claimed herein and being provided to prevent the oil or other liquid in the cylinformed a hub 26 through which the spindle 22 passes and which extends downwardly through an 'opening in the upper side of the cylinder 11. v

rthe upper central portions of the cylinder 11 are formed with front and rear lateral flanges 27, and said cylinder is, at said flanges, secured to the horizontal member 17 of the bracket 10 by means of screws 28, these screws being removable whenever it may be desired to dismember the parts of the device. The connection of the cylinder with the supporting bracket 10 by means of 'the screws 28 renders the assemblingr of the parts very easy, and in additionv the construction of the lcylinder separate from the supporting bracket renders the manufacture of the several parts of the device very convenient and satisfactory as well as at a less cost than when the supporting bracket, spring chamber and cylinder of a door check are formed in one piece. lThe cylinder 11 aside from being separate from the supporting bracket and secured thereto bv screws is not of unusual construction, said cylinderjbeing permanently closed at one end and closed at the other end by the plug or cap -29 and containing in one wall a by-pass 30 under the control of an adjusting screw 31. Vithin the cylinder 11 is located a -valved piston 32 of usual construction pivotally connected by a link 33 with a pin 34 carried at the outer end of a crank arm 35 which is secured to the lower end of the spindle 22.

The cup members 13, 14 are exposed and each comprises a closed end and an open end, and the open ends of said members are closely adjacent to each other, the exterior wall 36 of the cup 13 extending downwardly and meeting the corresponding wall 37 of the cup 14. The cup members 13., 14 are formed at their interior with sleeves 38,

which, like the exterior'portions 36, 37 of mienne said cups, meet each other, so that finally the upper cup 16 rests at its lower outer and inner edges on the corresponding edges of the cup 14 and there is formed between the outer walls of'said cups and the inner sleeve members 38 thereof a spring chamber for the spring 12. 'll`he cups 13, 14, while engaging eachother and mounted on the post or stud 21, are independently rotatable, the upper cup being adapted to rotate on the post 21 and upper edges of the cup 14 whilev in Fig. 6, below the joint between the cups 13, 14 and in position to engage the stop 2O cast on the back 18 of the supporting bracket 10, and the cup 14 is formed `integrally'with a lug 40 which `extends npwardly beyond the joint between the cups 13, 14 and is in position to engage the stop 20.. The lugs 39, 40 extend both above and below the joint between the cups 13, 14 so that said lugs, one or the other, may always be against the stop 2O and so that said lugs, may, one at a time,` be acted on by a'depending arm 41 of a right-angular bar or frame y42 comprising the said arm 41 which is vertical and a horizontal arm 43 which extends across the top of the upper cup13 and it its free end is of hub formation, as at 44, and formed lat its outer arc-shaped edge with gear teeth 45. The outer or hub portion 44 of the right-angular bar 42 is freely mounted on the upper portion of the spindle 22 and directly over the top' of the upper cup 13, and normally, as when a door employing the check is in closed position, the arm 41 of the bar 42 is directly above the stop 20 of the back 18 and between the lugs 39, 40 carried bythe cups, as shown in Fig. 6.

Above the hub portion 44 of the bar or frame 42 the spindle 22 has flattened sides,

as shown in Fig. 2, upon which a square hole in the inner end of the lever arm 46 is placed, and above said lever arm 46 the spindle 22 is threaded to receive a nut 47 by which the lever arm is held securely upon the upper end of the spindle. rFhe lever arm 46 is a feature of usual construction and it is connected to the link arm 48 of known construction and operation and which at one end is pivotally connected with by which the link may be secured to the lintel over a door or other required surface.

The oscillatory movement of the lever arm 46 serves to rotate the spindle 22 and thereby move the piston 32 in the cylinder 11,

the door being checked in its closing movement by the pressure of the piston against the liquid in the cylinder, in a known manner. It is desired that the movement of the lever arm 46 should also serve to wind the spring 12 from one end or the other during the opening of the door so that upon the release of the door the spring may operate to close the door, and to this end I provide the lever arm 46 with a pivoteddog 50 having two engaging points, one or the other ot' which Will be in engagement with a tooth of the series 45 formed on the hub 44 of the bar or frame 42; and it will be obvious that when the dog 50 is in engagement with the teeth 45, the movement of the lever arm 46 Will be communicated to the bar or frame 42, and that under such condition the arm 41 of said bar or frame will be carried concentrically with the spindle 22 against one or the other df the lugs 39, 40 and eli'ect the rotation'of one or the other of the cups 13, 14 in accordance with its direction of movement. When the dog is in the position in which it is shown in Fig. 1, adapting the check and closer for a right hand door, the arm 4l will, on the opening of the door, be moved against the stop, 39 on the upper cup member 13 and cause said member to rotate toward the left, looking at Fig. 1, thereby Winding the spring 12 from its upper end, While the lower end of said spring is held stationary by the engagement of the lug 40 on the lower cup 14 with the stop 20. In applying the door check and closer to a left hand door the dog or pawl 50 will be given a reverse position to that shown in Fig. 1 or swung over so that the right hand toe or point thereof, looking at Fig. 1, will engage one of the teeth 45, and then when the door bearing the structure is opened, the arm 41 will engage the lug 4() on the cup 14 and effect the rotation of said cup and the winding of the spring 12 from the lower end thereof, the upper end of the spring then being held stationary by the cup 13 whose lug 39 will be against the stop 20. It will be observed that the operation of the door check4 and closer is extremely plain and simple and that the device may be readily applied by an unskilled person to a right or a left hand door, as occasion may require. The bar or frame 42 and the lugs 39, 40 with which it coacts, are all exposed, and therefore the may be readily observed, Aand in addition y their exposure the spring chamber is left unoccupied except by the spring. which is a very great advantage over many door checks and closers in which the interior of theI spring chamber is provided with various concealed devices for adapting 35 the structure for right and left hand doors.

The cup members 13, 14 have at their in ner tubular portions extended bearing surfaces to engage the stud or post 2l, and hence have a smooth uniform movement and are rendered extremely durable. I prefer to make the cup members 13, 14 exactly alike, so that either member may be at the top or either member at the bottom, thus avoiding any mistakes in assembling and avoiding even' the requirement of any thought as to which cup member is to be at the top or which at the bottom. I do not desire to limit my invention however to making the cup members 13, 14 of exactly the same proportions, since with less advantage one cup member may be deeper than the other. The Cup members 13, 14 are capable of being very readily cast and prepared for use on the post or stud 21. The mannerof connecting the spring 12 with the cup members is also devoid of complication or material expense.

I deem the form and construction of the main supporting bracket 10 having the base plate 17 and stud or post 21 as of considerable importance, since when said bracket is constructed as shown and described, it is admirably adapted to receive and permit the proper operation of the cup members 13, 14 and in addition permits the cylinder 11 to be separately constructed and secured thereto by means of screws which may be readily applied or withdrawn. The structure as a whole has been designed with a view ofattaining in a device of this class cxtreme simplicity and durability and the provision of a door check and closer which may be manufactured at reasonable expense. The cup members 13, 14 constitute a sectional inclosing casing for the spring and, in the construction presented, each of said members is rotatable independently of the other; this construction and arrangement admits of the door check and closer being employed for either a right hand door or a left hand door. If it should be desired, however, to construct the door checks and closers separately for right hand doors and for left hand doors, the articles might be manufactured with one or the other of the cup members non-rotatable.

My invention is not confined to details of form and construction otherwise than the following claims may require.

What I claim, is:

1. In a door-closer, a supporting bracket.

'a spring inclosing casing comprising upper and lower independent members, a coiled spring confined within said casing and having one end connected with the upper meinher thereof and its other end with the lower member thereof, a vertical stud extending through said members, a spindle mounted in said stud, an operating lever arm connected with said spindle. and exposed means movable with said spindle to exteriorly enand lower independent rotary members, a'

spring confined within said casing and having one end connected with' the upper member thereof and its other end with the lower member thereof, a vertical stud extending through said members and constituting the axis thereof, a spindle mounted in said stud,

an operating lever arm connected with said spindle"and`e'xposed means movable with said spindle to exteriorly engage said rotary members for winding the spring therefrom at its respective ends, said supporting bracket being provided with a stop to hold said rotary members in their initial position and allow either to he rotated from said exposed means.

3. lln a door-closer,l a supporting bracket, a spring inclosing casing comprising upper and lower independent members, a coiled spring confined within said casing and having one end connected with the upper niember thereof and its other end with the lower member thereof, a vertical-stud extending throughfsaid members, spindle mounted in said stud, an operating `lever arm con-- nected with said spindle, and exposed means movable with said spindle to erteriorly engage a rotary member of said'casing for winding the spring therefrom, said supporting bracket being provided with a stop to hold said rotary member of the casing in its initial position, combined witha checking cylinder carried by said bracket, a piston therein, and means connecting said spindie and piston for operating the piston from the s indie.

e. n a door-closer, a supporting bracket, a'spring inclosing casing comprising upper and lower independent rotary members, a spring confined within said casing and havv ing one end connected with the upper member thereof and its other end with the lower e member thereof, a vertical stud extending through said members and constituting the axis thereof, a spindle mounted in said stud, an operating lever arm connected with said spindle and exposed means movable with said spindle lto exteriorly engage said rotary members' for winding the spring therefrom at its respective ends, said supporting bracket being provided with stop to hold said rotary members in their initial position and allow either to be rotated from said exposed means, combined with a checking cylinder carried by said bracket, a piston therein, and means connecting said spindle and piston for operating the piston from the'spindhiD andere and movable with said spindle to exteriorly engage said rotary members for rotating one or the other thereof for winding the spring therefrom at its respective ends, said supporting bracket being provided with ai stop to hold saidirotary members in their initial position and allow either to be rotated from said frame, and said rotary members having lugs to engage opposite edges of said stop, and said frame having 'an arm extending between said lugs to en- ,gage one or the other thereof. in accordance C' n I with its direction of movement.

6. lln a. door-closer, a supporting bracket, a spring incrlosing casing comprising matching upper and lower independent rotary members, a double-acting coiled spring confined within said casing and having one end connected with the upper member thereof and the otherend with the lower .member thereof, a vertical stud extending through said members and constituting the axis thereof, a spindle mounted in said stud, an operating lever arm connected with said spindle, and a frame exterior to said casing and movable with said spindle to exteriorly engage said rotary/members for rotating one or the other thereof for winding the spring therefrom at its respective ends, said vsupporting bracket being provided with a stop to hold said rotary members in their initial position and allow either-to be rotated from said frame, and said rotary members having lugs to engage oppositeedges of said stop, and said frame having an arm extending between said lugs to engage one or the other thereof in accordance with its direction. of movement, combined. withv a checking cylinder carried by said bracket, a piston therein, and means connecting said spindle and piston for operating the piston from the spindle. i

7. in a door closer, a supporting bracket, a spring inclosing casing comprising upper and-lower independent rotary cup-members, a double-acting coiled spring confined within said casing and having one end connected with the upper member thereof and the other end with the lower member thereof, a vertical spindle concentric with said casing, an operating lever arm connected with said spindle, and a right-angular frame exterior to said easing and movabie with said spindle ies to exteriorly engage said cup-members for rotating one or the other thereof for winding the spring therefrom at its respective ends, said supporting bracket beingprovided with a stop to hold said rotar members in their initial position andy allow either to be rotated from said frame, said rotary members having lugs to engage opposite edges of said stop, and said frame being extended across the top of said casing and having a depending arm extending be tween said lugs to engage-one or the other thereof in accordance with its direction of movement.

8. In a door closer, a supporting bracket,

' a spring inclosing casing comprising upper and lower independent rotary cup-members, a double-acting coiled spring confined within said casing and having one end connected with the upper member thereof and the other end with the lower member thereof, a vertical spindle concentric with said c asing, an operating lever arm connected with said spindle, and a right-angular frame exterior to said casing and movable with said spindle to exteriorly engage said cup-members for rotating one or the other thereof for winding the spring therefrom at its re spective ends, said supportin bracket being provided with a stop to ho d said rotary members in their initial position and allow either to be rotated from said frame, said rotary members having lugs to engage oposite edges of said stop, and said frame being extended across the top of said casing and having a depending arm extending between said lugs to engage one or the other thereof in accordance with its direction of movement, combined with a checking cylinder carried by said bracket, a piston therein, and means connecting said spindle and piston for operating the piston from the spindle.

9. In a door closer, a supporting bracket, a spring inclosing casing comprising upper and lower independent rotary cup-mem ers, a double-acting coiled spring confined within said casing and having one end connected with the upper member thereof and `the other end with the lower member thereof, a vertical spindle concentric with said casing, an operating lever arm connected with said spindle, and a right-an lar frame exterior to said casing and mova le with and mounted on said spindle to exteriorly engage said cup-members for rotating one or the other thereof for winding the spring therefrom at its respective ends., said supportin bracket being provided with a stop to hol said ro tary members in their inltial position and allow either to be rotated from said frame, said rotary members having lugs to engage opposite edges of said stop, said frame being extended across the top of said casing an having a depending arm extending between said lugs to engage one or the other thereof in accordance with its direction of movement, and said frame having adjacent to said spindle a toothed edge, and said lever arm having a pivoted pawl with two teeth either of which may engage a tooth of said e e.

l0. In a doorcloser, a supporting bracket, a springinclosing casing comprising upper and lower independent rotary matching cup.-

members, a double-acting coiled spring con-Y` fined within said casing and having one end connected with the upper member thereof and the other end with the lower member thereof, a vertical spindle concentric with said casing, an operating lever arm connected with said spindle, exposed means movable with said spindle to exteriorly engage said rotary members for winding the spring therefrom at its respective en s, and means for holding said rotary members in their initial position and allowing either to be rotated from said exposed means.

11. In a door-closer, a supporting bracket, a spring inclosing casing comprising upper and lower independent rotary matching cupmembers having tubular bearing sleeves at their vertical center, a double-acting coiled spring confined within said casing and having one end connected with the upper member thereof and the other end with the lower member thereof, a rigid stud on which said cup members are mounted, a vertical spindle mounted in said stud, an operating lever arm carrying a double-acting pawl and connected with said spindle, exposed means engaged by said pawl and movable with said spindle to exteriorly engage said rotary members for winding the spring therefrom at its respective ends, and means for holding said rotary members in their initial position and allowing either to be rotated from said exposed means.

12. In a door-closer, a supporting bracket comprising a back, a horizontal'plate and an integral stud extending vertically at right angles to said plate, a springinclosing casing comprising upper and lower independent rotary members mounted on said stud, a double acting coiled spring confined within said casing and having one end connected with the upper member thereof and the other end with the lower member thereof, a vertical spindle mounted in said stud, an operating lever arm connected with said spindle and carrying a pivoted dog or pawl, exposed means movable with said spindle and mounted thereon to engage said rotary members for winding the sprlng therefrom at its respective ends, and means for holding said rotary members in their initial position and allowing either to be rotated from said exposed means, said exposed means having a toothed edge to be engaged by said dog or pawl. I

13. In a door-closer, a supporting bracket comprising a back, a horizontal plate and an integral stud extending vertically at right angles to said plate, a spring inclosing casing comprising upper and lower independent rotary members mounted on said stud, a double acting coiled spring conned Within said casing and` having one en'd connected with the upper member thereof and the other end with the lower member thereof, a vertical spindle mounted in said stud, an operating lever arm connected with said spindle and carrying a pivoted dog or pawl, exposed means movable with said spindle and mounted thereon to engage said rotary members for winding the spring therefrom at its respective ends, and means for holdmie-,era

ling said vrotary members in their initial position and allowing either to be rotated from said exposed means, said exposed means having a toothed edge to be engaged by Saul dog or pawl, combined with a checking- Signed at New York city, in the county of New York and State of New York, this 9th day of April, A. D. 1914.

ALBERT J. ROSENTRETER.

Witnesses:

ARTHUR MARRON, CHARLES C. GlLL.

Cil 

